🕯️ Prusisyon in Marinduque: A Solemn Holy Week Procession by Candlelight

🕯️ Quiet Steps, Flickering Faith: The Prusisyon I Grew Up With

Some memories stay with you because of how they felt — not how they looked. For me, the Prusisyon (procession) during Mahal na Araw in Marinduque is one of those.

I honestly don’t remember if there’s a mass before it starts. Maybe there was. But what I do remember is waiting outside the church, clutching a candle, eager to join the line.

🕊️ Sometimes, we were late. We lived far from the town center, so we’d find a quiet spot down the road and wait for the procession to pass by. Once the first few devotees came into view, we’d blend in — slowly, silently, almost like we were stepping into a sacred space.

💡 There were no streetlights then. Just the dim, golden flicker of candles held carefully by every participant — young and old. We’d walk slowly through the narrow streets, past dark houses, fields, and the quiet whispers of prayers.

I remember reaching out to the person in front or beside me, asking if I could light my candle from theirs. That tiny act always felt warm — like faith being passed on.

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🛐 Prusisyon Tips & Reflections

🕯️ Bring your own candle, but expect to share its flame — it's part of the tradition.
👣 Wear comfortable shoes — the route goes through the whole town and can take over an hour.
🤫 Stay silent or whisper prayers — it's not a parade but a prayerful walk.
📸 Avoid flash photography — respect the solemn mood.
👪 Good for families — especially kids learning about faith, as long as they can handle the quiet pace.

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💭 “When we had no streetlights, we walked in the dark with just our candles. Maybe that’s part of how we repented — literally walking through darkness, together.”

As a child, I never questioned it. I just followed along, holding my candle, trying not to burn myself — and wondering if I'd step on someone’s feet.

But now, as I look back, it was more than a procession. It was a shared journey of repentance and hope, where the whole town moved together like one soul — quiet, reflective, and trusting in the light of others.

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📣 Experience the Prusisyon in Marinduque

If you're ever in Marinduque during Holy Week, don’t miss this humble yet powerful procession.

🕯️ Walk with the locals. Feel the silence. Let your candle join the stream of faith winding through the night.